Mother's Day concert in Mahalakshmi Hall,R.A.Puram,Chennai

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 10 May 2009, 21:29

This was a special concert arranged by Sangeethapriya for mother's day. A thematic concert sung by Ms.Nithya and Ms.Vidhya. The list of songs was decided beforehand and most of the compositions were dedicated on Ambal, as mother. The 2 exceptions were a song on Ganapathi and Suryamurthe in Sourashtram which was sung as it was a sunday. Sri Ananthapadhmanabha was on the violin and Sri Swaminathan on the mridangam.

The list:

1. Varnam(srI rAjamAthangi) - Suddha Dhanyasi -Adi-HMB (2nd speed charanam)
2. pAhi pAhi bAlaganapathE- hamsadhwani - rupakam-?(swarakalpana)
3. sUryamUrthE - Sowrashtram - Chatusra Dhruva-Dikshithar
4. nIve nannu brOva - Durbar - Kanda Chapu-Walahjapet Venkatramana Bhagavatar(raga alapana and swaram)
5. karmamE balavanthamAye talli - sAveri - misra chapu-Thyagarajar(raga alapana and swaram)
6. bhuvanEsvariyA - mOhanakalyAni - adi - HMB
7. srI bhArgavi - mangalakaisiki - misra chapu - MD
8. pAlincu kamAkshi - madhyamAvathi - Adi- Syama Sastri(raga alapana....??)
9. tiruvarul tara - atAnA- Adi - PS
10. srI kamalAmba jayathi - Ahiri-rupakam-MD
11.bAghyadhA lakshmi - srI - Adi - purandarar (It was listed as srI but I have heard only a Madhyamavathi version)

The singers are disciples of Smt.Kalpakam Swaminathan. This concert was a thematic one.

First of all, I have to congratulate the singers as they know so many rare compositions. These compositions are not only rare. They are precious also. They are in the verge of extinction, as far as I know. Songs like "sRi bhArgavi" are no more heard. Maybe they were sung in the past. The singers, both are gifted, as their pAtAntharam is strong and fine.
I could not identify who was who - Ms.Nithya or Ms.Vidhya. The singer sitting on the left was a bit better than the one on the right. Both of them were looking very sad and sober. I did not no why!! A concert is a happy occasion and they could have smiled and been happy. I am not criticizing them but this is just my small suggestion to performers. They had all the advantages in their repertoire but their faces were forlorn. They should be proud that they know such a lot of fine music!

Coming to the kritis, the sudhdha danyasi varnam, a relatively unheard one, was rendered in a fine manner. 2nd speed was adopted from the charanam.
The next song, pAhi pAhi, was in sweet Hamsadhwani. Swarams were rendered by the singers. The singer on the left was dominant but on the whole, the swarakalpana section was okay. The violinist's returns were better.

The third piece, sUryamUrthE, was clearly a highlight of the concert. It was rendered in a grand manner by the duo. This slow sowrAshtram is very different and pleasing. The thalam also was new - Chatusra Dhruva thalam. It is a fine kriti by Dikshithar. Musicians who know such kritis are gifted.

Next, a Durbar alapana by the one on the left(I am sorry but I don't know how to address them!). It was fine giving adequate importance to the raga. The violinist's alapana was, technically good. But what I felt was that it exceeded the limit. With due respect to the violinist, I mean, violinists can play alapanas that demonstrate their fullest potential but this alapana sounded a bit better than the singer's which in my opinion is not elegant. A violinist should hear the singer's alapana and play accordingly. They should do it in such a way that their knowledge is shown and the alapana is confined within the limits of the singer's rendition. Playing a better and lengthier alapana is not advisable. This is my opinion. I have heard from many elders also that a violinist should not exceed the 70% limit. But, this violinist may have got involved in the raga alapana and played for a long time. It is acceptable but I hope this doesn't occur in many concerts. Swarakalpana was also rendered in a splendid manner by the duo.

Saveri Alapana was rendered by the one on the right. The song's rendition was excellent. This is a rare Thyagarajar composition on "Neelayadakshi Ambal" of Naagapattinam. Nice rendering of swarams also.

The Mohanakalyani kriti, with its usual splendor was special.
Next came my favourite "shrI bhArgavi" on the mother ranganAyaki thAyar of srIrangam. It was so divine.

All their renditions were extremely soulful.

Now, the problem arises. To be frank, Mahalakshmi Hall is a very small hall and it can seat 70 maybe. It has 3 huge air conditioners! Even I like to be in an air conditioned room in this hot Chennai veyyil(summer heat)!! But, after a certain period of time, the AC room becomes so cold that you start shivering and your body starts feeling numb. I was adjusting to all this, with difficult effort. I couldn't stand the coldness when this kriti was being rendered. I motioned to the organiser to switch off one of the ACs. He reluctantly signaled to me that he will not switch off the AC!! What a person.
There were only about 25 people in the hall and almost everybody was shivering. I wasn't being selfish! Because of this, I had to leave in the middle of the concert. A superb Madhyamavati alapana was being sung and I had to butt in by leaving!! I hope you all agree that this is a valid reason to leave!

I have posted the song list as it was given beforehand. The singers made such a good job. I couldn't stay for the entire concert!! To tell you, my cellphone was dead freezing when we reached home 20 minutes later! Imagine how it would have been to the skin of humans(that too persons with nervous problems like me!!)

yessel · Post by **yessel** » 11 May 2009, 12:32

I was asked to switch off the AC. What I told the young person was that I didn't have the remote with me as the guy who is supposed to be in-charge of the hall was away. All these interactions happened over sign language!!

Am not replying to this post to defend me, but to make a point. Before passing comments in a public forum, pl. understand the situation of the other person and do it. If you had noticed like a PA guy I was handling the amplifier et all. Try organising a tiny program like this and then react to these kind of situations. Its easy pass comments on others, try to practice it. You could have sat away from the AC to avoid the brunt.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 11 May 2009, 16:12

And i think in his shivering member srinivasargvn could listen to only vocal and failed to listen to the accompanists and even left this post without mentioning even a single line of appreciation or otherwise (depreciation hahahahah) abt them ..????/

J.Balaji

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 11 May 2009, 20:50

Yessel Sir, I never meant any offense against you. Actually, I know you very well. Your painstaking efforts in bringing up Sangeethapriya are very well known.

We signaled to you to switch off the AC. You briefly motioned, "No". Let it be that you meant "I didn't have the remote". We waited for another 5 minutes. But you did not take any action. When a person expresses his feelings, you should have gone, searched for it and switched it off. If you do not know the whereabouts of the hall's caretaker, lay rasikas like us cannot do anything. I very well know that organising concerts like this are really painstaking and difficult. I extend my greatest gratitude to you on that aspect. But, not having an assistant/caretaker in the hall is your problem.
When you were fixing the audio system, etc. Why could you not reach out your hand and switch off the AC? Is the only option increasing the temperature? In that small hall, there are 3 air conditioners. Wherever a person sits, the cold air will definitely blow!! Switching off one AC will not do a big harm!!

Sir, you are an expert concert organiser. You have the experience. You should be prepared for everything! Let it be keeping the caretaker with you or having the remote!

You say, understand the situation of the other person before writing in a public forum!! How am I supposed to understand your hand motions? Even if you had meant what you have mentioned, you could have taken actions in 5 minutes!! But you were just sitting.

This is not my personal attack on you or anything. I am not blaming you either. I am just telling you that rasikas will have a hundred problems and it is the duty of the organizers to tend to them(organizer here means the organizer or his subordinates whoever they may be) even if it is a free concert!!

I reiterate that what you had done was a very good job indeed. The singers were really talented. I very well understand your problems. I am not blaming you nor am I invoking trouble.

If I had said anything wrong, I openly apologize!! It may have been our mistake. But, in the future, please convey your message/actions in an understandable manner and take the necessary actions. I apologize once again. Let us forget this matter and enjoy the divine carnatic music!!

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 11 May 2009, 20:53

mridhangam wrote:And i think in his shivering member srinivasargvn could listen to only vocal and failed to listen to the accompanists and even left this post without mentioning even a single line of appreciation or otherwise (depreciation hahahahah) abt them ..????/

J.Balaji

Balaji sir,
Yes. It is my mistake that I didn't mention about the mridangam player. He also did a fine job. The endings(do you call them theermAnams or something?? I don't know) were very nice. I am a total zero on laya and the like. So, I wouldn't be a good reviewer for the accompanying percussionists. =)

Jayashri · Post by **Jayashri** » 11 May 2009, 20:56

Is there a recording of this concert rasikas can hear?

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 11 May 2009, 21:49

Am not replying to this post to defend me, but to make a point. Before passing comments in a public forum, pl. understand the situation of the other person and do it. If you had noticed like a PA guy I was handling the amplifier et all. Try organising a tiny program like this and then react to these kind of situations. Its easy pass comments on others, try to practice it. You could have sat away from the AC to avoid the brunt.

Typical sabha secretary response. Of course we can all take a point from the above advice and ...........

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 12 May 2009, 12:58

Srinivasraghavan,

I can agree with you 100% on our sabha status . My worst fears going for our sabhas is the acoustics, availability of comfortable seating, neighbours attitudes like singing along, chatting, having fun, mobiling, bringing un-interested kids and keeping them busy, frequent aha oho sounds.. etc. If a person is sensitive or suddenly become conscious of things around, it becomes a pain. I make a point to go with a friend that I myself is not distracted by these. Sometime organisers are too overenthusiastic accomodating more people inside the hall. Sometime they will try to squeeze in more people by asking every row of (sitting) people to move forward in the middle of the neraval. In odukathur mutt there will be a deeparathana (not one two, to collect money from audience) on the dais while concert is ongoing. What a distarction? Being from south we can very well tolerate heat but not the cold. I can understand your point. Many of our sabhas are ill equipped.

And on a different note our sabha organisers are doing a thankless job without taking salaries (most cases). Once we get paid secretaries this problem might go away.

I am very happy when I am seated in a sparse afternoon session in MA, NGS chennai or Chowdaiah hall blore in a noon concert of RK Srikantan, Vijay Siva or some youngsters like Prassanna Venkataraman and listeneing to alapana or neraval with just tampura and the occassional violin intrudes. How nice it will be?